State-Tribal Relations Committee 1706 (406) 444-3064 FAX (406) 444-3036 62Nd Montana Legislature

PO BOX 201706 Helena, MT 59620- State-Tribal Relations Committee 1706 (406) 444-3064 FAX (406) 444-3036 62nd Montana Legislature

SENATE MEMBERS HOUSE MEMBERS COMMITTEE STAFF SHANNON AUGARE GORDON HENDRICK CASEY BARRS, Lead Staff TAYLOR BROWN CAROLYN PEASE-LOPEZ DANIEL WHYTE, Staff Attorney CARMINE MOWBRAY JOE READ CLAUDIA (CJ) JOHNSON, Secretary SHARON STEWART-PEREGOY FRANK SMITH

Sen. Carmine Mowbray Chair State-Tribal Relations Interim Committee Legislature of Montana P.O. Box 1202 Polson, MT 59860-1202

August 25, 2011

Chairman T.J. Show Blackfeet Nation PO Box 850 | All Chiefs Square Browning, MT 59417

Dear Chairman Show,

Greetings to you from the State-Tribal Relations Interim Committee. At the first meeting of our committee on June 28th an individual made a brief presentation to the committee regarding the federal 2010 census. Clearly, decennial census data is a vital and valuable tool for many reasons. The presentation inferred the possibility of inaccurate data on the Indian population within Montana.

Our committee does not have the jurisdiction to challenge census results. However, in order to provide informational support, if requested, we are presenting these questions to the leadership of each tribe regarding their response to the 2010 census:

1. Are you planning to use the Census Count resolution process to ask for a correction to any of your Census figures? 2. If you have begun such a challenge or plan to do so, have you gathered any documentation to support the challenge? 3. If you have begun such a challenge or plan to do so, have you contacted the Montana Department of Commerce’s Census and Economic Information Center for general information on the challenge process and how you access the data?

Although it is the responsibility of the highest elected or appointed official of the affected state, local, or tribal unit to carry the initiative in any such challenges, our committee retains an interest in the matter and, again, would like to hear your impressions.

MONTANA LEGISLATIVE SERVICES DIVISION STAFF: SUSAN BYORTH FOX, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR $ DAVID D. BOHYER, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND POLICY ANALYSIS $ TODD EVERTS, DIRECTOR, LEGAL SERVICES OFFICE $ HENRY TRENK, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY $ DIRECTOR, LEGISLATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY OFFICE

PO BOX 201706 Helena, MT 59620- State-Tribal Relations Committee 1706 (406) 444-3064 FAX (406) 444-3036 62nd Montana Legislature

Please do share your thoughts with us as soon as you are able.

Sincerely

Sen. Carmine Mowbray